Time in Romeo and Juliet

Comments (0)

Transcript of Time in Romeo and Juliet

Time is a very large part of Romeo and Juliet and influences many aspects of the writing.Time Throughout Romeo and JulietThe suspense that the audience feels and the way the audience reacts can all be attributed to the use of time in the playAct 1Act 1's speed is directly related to the way the characters are in the scene. In the Act ,Romeo is depressed that Rosaline doesn't love him. The pace of the play reflects Romeo's mood, in the act the pace is slow to emphasize the effect of Romeo's sadness and his depressed mood."Many a morning hath he there been seen with tears augmenting the fresh morning dew" (1.1, 134-135)Act 2Act 2's pace increases slightly over Act 1's but still proceeds at a reasonable tempo because no large, dramatic events take place in this part of the play."The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse. In half an hour she promised to return...Love’s heralds should be thoughts, Which ten times faster glides than the sun’s beams" (2.5 1-5)"Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow." (2.6, 15)"Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast." (2.3, 101)Act 3Act 3 is where the tempo of the play begins to really speed up to portray a sense of urgency to all the actions that the characters make"Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man."(3.1 101-102)Act 4Act 4's pace takes a flying leap into fast paced thrill ride. Important events and actions fly past the audience in some of the shortest scenes of the entire play. The fast pace beautifully portrays the urgency that Romeo and Juliet feel to be married and also give a sense of gloom and destruction to the plot as it tail spins out of control"Uncomfortable time, why cam’st thou now To murder, murder our solemnity?" (4.5, 66-67)"Hold, then. Go home; be merry; give consent To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow. Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone;" (4.1, 91-93)Throughout the play Shakespeare uses time to enhance the feelings that the audience has about the actions happening on stage. The suspense the audience feels, the rushed decisions, and the urgency that the plot seems to have are all exemplified through the speed at which the play moves in the different acts and scenes.If you delve more into the different events in the scene, you will notice that time is fairly rushed in this section. When Romeo and Juliet are together though, like in the balcony scene, time seems to slow to a complete crawl as the two characters talk about love and marriage. To them however, it seems as if time is zooming by.Many important events like the advancing of Juliet's marriage with Paris occur in this act. These events should require time to think about and address but the rapid pace of the play requires fast actions, which helps to emphasize the overall feeling of doom that the tragedy carries with it from the prologue.Events like the killing of Mercutio and Tybalt in this act are large plot twists that send Romeo over the edge with anger and grief. These events, like others, begin to pile up, and without any time to deal with them properly, begin to take their toll on the Romeo and add to the drama that is enfolding on stage.Speed and intensity can be shown in many different ways. In the play, Shakespeare uses the fast paced scences and acts to give this effect. In other works, such as musicals and modern day movies another layer can be added through Music."When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?" (3.2 109)"Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late." (3.3 174)One reading "Romeo and Juliet" would also notice that most of the scenes in which Romeo and Juliet are together take place at night. Night is usually thought of as a time of michief and secrecy and would thus help Shakespeare portray the fact that their meetings are secret and dangerous"Or by the break of day disguised from hence."( 3.3 179)"Your lady mother is coming to your chamber. The day is broke; be wary; look about." (3.5 39-40)"I must hear from thee every day in the hour, for in a minute there are many days. O, by this count I shall be much in years."(3.5 44-46)"Ay me, sad hours seem long. Was that my father that went hence so fast?" (1.1, 166-167)"Let two more summers wither in their pride" (1.2, 10)"Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised too sudden, too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say "It lightens." Sweet good night. This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet" (2.2, 123-129)Every Time We Say GoodbyeEverytime we say goodbye, I die a little,Everytime we say goodbye, I wonder why a little,Why the Gods above me, who must be in the know.Think so little of me, they allow you to go.When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor,Everytime we say goodbye.When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor,Everytime we say goodbye.Time After TimeLying in my bed I hear the clock tick,And think of youCaught up in circles confusion -Is nothing newFlashback - warm nights -Almost left behindSuitcases of memories,Time after -

[Chorus:]If you're lost you can look - and you will find meTime after timeIf you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting Time after time

After my picture fades and darkness has Turned to grayWatching through windows - you're wonderingIf I'm OKSecrets stolen from deep insideThe drum beats out of time -

[Chorus:]

You said go slow -I fall behindThe second hand unwinds -

[Chorus:]

...Time after timeTime after timeTime after timeTime after timeClocksThe lights go out and I can't be savedTides that I tried to swim againstHave brought me down upon my kneesOh I beg, I beg and plead, singing

Come out of things unsaidShoot an apple off my head and aTrouble that can't be namedA tiger's waiting to be tamed, singing

You areYou are

Confusion never stopsClosing walls and ticking clocks Gonna come back and take you homeI could not stop that you now know, singing

Come out upon my seasCursed missed opportunities Am I a part of the cure?Or am I part of the disease? Singing